Women&#39;s shoes with detachable pouch or showcase for interchangeable fashion inserts

ABSTRACT

Women&#39;s shoes with a detachable pouch or detachable lift-off top showcase for interchangeable designer inserts, where the detachable pouch or detachable showcase is in the form of a strip which is disposed directly above and is longitudinally aligned along a center of a sole of said shoe, and where an upper end of said strip is attached at a first attachment point on a strap which encircles a portion of a woman&#39;s ankle, and a lower end of said strip is attached at a second attachment point at a forefoot retaining band located at a forefoot portion of the shoe.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/506,158, filed Mar. 30, 2012, and entitled: “Women's shoes with Lift-Off Top Showcase For Interchangeable Designer Inserts”, which is currently pending, and which is a continuation of Ser. No. 12/454,976, filed Feb. 10, 2009, and entitled: “Women's Shoes, Including Sandals, With Interchangeable Fashion Inserts”, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,658 on May 15, 2012. Priority is claimed under each of the applications mentioned above, and the subject matter of each of these applications is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fashion shoes, including sandals for women. More particularly, the invention relates to various kinds of shoes, including sandals which are provided with means to alter the decorative appearance thereof so as, if desired, to selectively change the appearance of the shoes or sandals or to match in design the fashion statement made by the other clothing of the woman wearing such shoes or sandals, in stabilized constructs.

2. Background Art

For countless years women's shoes, including sandals have been an integral part of the fashion statement made through the entire ensemble of clothing worn by women. For the most part, the matching by fashion conscious women of outer clothing components and shoes, including sandals in color and/or design has required a specific pair of shoes or sandals approximately coordinating the clothing color and/or designs. Thus, today's fashion conscious women frequently have to obtain a vast variety of shoes, including sandals being worn occasionally with a particular clothing combination. Further, because of the season-to-season and year-to-year changes in women's dress fashions, women's shoes, including sandals very often become obsolete long before they have shown use wear. Today's economy requires conservation and reuseables.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide women's shoes, including sandals having means for displaying an interchangeable series of fashion design inserts for the topmost portions and straps of such shoes, including sandals for color and/or imprint design coordination thereof with the other clothing items of a woman's total clothing ensemble, precisely matched.

It is another object of the invention to provide women's shoes, including sandals with means in a topmost portion and straps thereof for inserting, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts matching in color and/or design the other clothing items of a woman's total clothing ensemble.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide women's shoes, including sandals with transparent pouch means in the upper portions and straps thereof for receiving, retaining, and displaying a variety of interchangeable fashion coordinating inserts of color and/or imprint design matching in color and/or imprint design the other clothing items of a woman's clothing ensemble, in an exact millimeter figured pouch.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide women's shoes, including sandals with pouch means which extend to the top most portion thereof for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion inserts bearing fabrics matching in color and/or print or weave designs the color and/or print or weave designs of the fabrics of other clothing items of a woman's clothing ensemble, providing easy in-out access.

Another object of the invention is to provide interchangeable color and/or design inserts for retention and display in transparent pouch areas of the topmost portions and straps of women's shoes, including sandals with such inserts matching and coordinated in fashionable array the other clothing items making up a woman's total clothing ensemble, using recycled scraps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a variety of interchangeable color and/or design inserts for transparent attachable showcases on matched portions and straps for women's shoes and sandals with such inserts matching in fashionable array the variety of clothing items making up a woman's wardrobe and with such attachable-detachable male stud snap-ons around the showcase frame, matched to female stud snap-ins framing the shoes' longitudinal strip area of display.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable pouch or showcase which may be attached to the shoe in a “buckle-on” embodiment, where at least a portion of the cross straps or bands located on the shoe are equipped with buckles, to enable attachment of and to provide adequate support for a pouch or showcase used to display fashion inserts. Such straps or bands may be pulled through a back slit or channel opening behind the pouch or showcase to hold the pouch or showcase in place on the shoe.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following summary and detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to women's fashion shoes, including sandals which are provided with means to quickly and effectively alter the decorative color and design appearance thereof so as, if desired, to selectively change the appearance of the shoes, including sandals or to match in coordinating manner the fashion statement made by the variety of clothing of the woman wearing such shoes or sandals. In accordance with the invention women's shoes, including sandals are provided in their visible upper and/or strap areas with pouch or attachable showcase for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts. The pouch is comprised of an outer layer of transparent plastic film material of appropriate configuration intimately affixed to visible sandal top strap areas or with an attach/detach vinyl showcase of exact aligned stud snap-ons.

Each pouch or showcase is provided with an opening through which the interchangeable fashion design inserts may be placed with the pouch or showcase and retained therein by frictional proximity of the transparent plastic film material or by insert retaining pouch closure means. Pouch or showcase closure means may include Velcro hook and loop strips, heat molded tongue and groove strips, button-type snap fasteners, or tuck-in folds of the film material. A preferred transparent film material is lightweight gauge durable vinyl plastic film. However, other plastic film material may be utilized in construction of shoe and sandal pouch areas. Such film materials may be sewn into the shoe and sandal structures at appropriate connections or may be otherwise appropriately framed by the leather or fabric to provide abutment side guides for insert arrays entry and subsequent firm lodging with the affixed pouch or detachable showcase.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the pouch or showcase is attached along a narrow, long strip of the kind shown in FIG. 1. The base of the narrow, long strip is attached to a forward portion of a shoe in the area of the toe of the shoe, typically a forefoot retaining band near the toe of the shoe. The top of the narrow, long strip is attached to at least one strap which encircles the ankle of the wearer of the shoe. In some embodiments, there may be additional straps which cross the foot of the wearer of the shoe between the toe portion of the shoe and the at least one ankle strap of the shoe. The long narrow strip may be attached to such additional straps which cross the foot when these are present. One of skill in the art will recognize that the number of points at which the long narrow strip attaches to straps crossing the foot may vary with the design of the shoe.

The strip may be sewn into the shoe and sandal structures at appropriate connections and may be appropriately framed by leather or fabric. A pouch strip may functionally abut and guide in edges of an insert at the entry of a fashion insert into a pouch, to provide subsequent firm lodging of the fashion insert within the affixed pouch. A detachable showcase may be applied to the strip by the aligned stud snap-ons.

In an alternative embodiment, the strip may be attached to the shoe as a “buckle-on” accessory, where at least a portion of the cross straps or bands located on the shoe are equipped with buckles, to enable attachment of and to provide adequate support for a pouch or showcase used to display fashion inserts. Such straps or bands may be pulled through a back slit or channel opening behind the pouch or showcase to hold the pouch or showcase in place on the shoe.

Advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a women's shoe 100 including a detachable pouch 102 into which a fashion insert (not shown) may be placed. Straps 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 114 are illustrated on shoe 100, where these straps are inserted through slits or channels (not shown) on a bottom layer (not shown) of detachable pouch 102 to hold detachable pouch 102 in position on women's shoe 100.

FIG. 1B shows a cross section 1B----1B, numbered 130, of the detachable pouch 102 with an insert 145 present within the detachable pouch 102. The detachable pouch 102 includes a transparent layer 131 which overlies a fashion insert 145, and includes a bottom layer 135 which is present beneath fashion insert 145.

FIG. 1C shows the bottom layer 135 of detachable pouch 102, including the slits or channels 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, and 162 through which straps 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 114 pass, respectively.

FIG. 2A shows a women's shoe 200 including a detachable showcase 202 into which a fashion insert (not shown) may be placed. Straps 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, and 214 are illustrated on shoe 200, where these straps are inserted through slits or channels (not shown) on a bottom layer (not shown) of detachable showcase 202, to hold detachable showcase 202 in position on women's shoe 200.

FIG. 2B shows a top view 230 of the detachable showcase 202, which includes a supporting frame 232 which may optionally include a reinforcing layer 234. Snap on female studs 236 are shown mounted on supporting frame 232, which are designed to snap together with corresponding male studs (not shown) which are present on the bottom layer (not shown) of detachable showcase 202.

FIG. 2C shows the bottom layer 240 of detachable showcase 202, which includes the male studs 244, and slits or channels 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, and 262 through which straps 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, and 214 pass, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A and 2A illustrate two embodiments of the invention in the form of a woman's multi-banded style shoe including a detachable pouch or showcase, respectively. The detachable pouch or showcase is secured in place on the woman's shoe by the straps of the multi-banded shoe, which straps are passed through an area on a bottom of the pouch or showcase to secure the pouch or showcase in place on the shoe.

FIG. 1A shows a top right perspective view of a woman's shoe 100 having a designer insert array pouch 102 for receiving interchangeable inserts (not shown) which enable a multiplicity of decorative fashion designs for coordinating the fashion statement made by the wearer's entire clothing and shoe ensemble. The shoe 100 is comprised of a sole member 120, including a forefoot portion 121 and a heel portion 122, a heel member 124, a forefoot retaining band 122, instep retaining straps 108 and 110, a rear foot retaining portion 123, buckled ankle wrap straps 104 and 106, and, in the embodiment shown, a lifted back heel portion 125 that positions the buckled ankle wrap straps 104 and 106 further stabilizing the top entry opening 103 in the insert array pouch 102. Insert array pouch 102 comprises a transparent upper surface layer 132, which is shown in FIG. 1B. Insert pouch 102 longitudinally interconnects with the buckled ankle wrap straps 104 and 106 that go through a back slit (not shown) in lifted backheel portion 125. The buckled ankle wrap straps 104 and 106 encircle the upper portion of the ankle of the wearer's foot and buckle 105 and 107, respectively on an outer side of straps 104 and 106. Insert array pouch 102 then interconnects with instep straps 108 and 110 which are also buckled using buckles 109 and 111, respectively, and further interconnects with the forefoot retaining band 122 which includes straps 112 and 114 which are buckled using buckles 113 and 115, ending at that juncture.

It is obvious that all the cross straps or bands can be equipped with buckles as shown in FIG. 1A, affording a separate pouch or showcase that, instead of being permanently interconnected, is interconnected by slipping the openable straps through a back slit or channel opening of the kind shown in FIG. 1C, for example, on the backside of pouch 102. As shown in FIG. 1A with respect to detachable pouch 102, or in FIG. 2A with respect to detachable showcase 202, any number of straps may be pulled through the back slits behind the showcase and then buckled, to fasten the member into the desired location as shown.

The forefoot retaining band 122 of shoe 100 is proximately affixed by known means at or near its outer end portion near edge area 123 of sole member 120, and instep end portion near instep straps 108 and 110 is also affixed to the outer edges of the sole portion 125 of sole member 120. The rear foot retaining portion 122 is appropriately fixed by known means at or near its outer anchor end portion 127.

As an integral unit the insert array pouch 102 shown in FIG. 1A, or the showcase member 202 shown in FIG. 2A of the shoe 100 or 200, respectively is affixed to the at least one ankle strap such as 104 and 106 or 204 and 206 and a forefoot band such as 102 or 222, respectively and at least one instep strap such as 108 and 110 or 208 and 210, as illustrated in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A. Pouch member 102 includes an upper transparent of sheet plastic material 131 as shown in FIG. 1B and a lower layer of shoe fabrication material 135 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Showcase member 202 includes an upper transparent sheet of plastic material 238 as shown in FIG. 2B and a lower layer of shoe fabrication material 242 as shown in FIG. 2C.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the designer insert 145, for insertion into pouch 102 of FIG. 1A, includes an insert backing piece or insert blank 133 as shown in FIG. 1B, which may be comprised of a single or multiple layers, to which is affixed a designer material 132 or 134 coordinated as to color and/or printed or woven design with the clothing items to be worn with the shoe 100.

The designer material 132 or 134 may be affixed to the backing piece 133 by adhesives, such as iron-on and pressure sensitives, depending upon the nature of what is to be made integral with the backing piece 133. Do it yourself customizations, if kept wafer thin, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, may include, but are not limited to: paintings, sews, stitches, appliqué sew-ons, ribbons or salvaged vintage or sew basket scraps as all are combinable medium on the designer piece; with minimum effort and maximum displayable results.

FIG. 1B shows an enlarged transverse section view taken on line 1B--1B of FIG. 1A of a pouch member 102, including designer insert 145. The structure of the pouch member 102 is maintained by edge stitching 140 which is permanently affixed, and extends through the edge of area 141, to affix the peripheral edge 137 of the upper transparent layer 131 to the lower layer of shoe fabrication material 135 and extends through the rolled edge portions of double edged frame 141 which confines upper transparent layer 131.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B shows a picture frame effect of the insert array 145 within pouch member 102 through its inwardly projecting peripheral edge portion of double edge frame 141 which overlays the edges of the designer insert 145 seated within the pouch member 102. This double edge frame 141 which wraps over and around the edge portion of both sides of the upper transparent layer 131 of pouch member 102, also has a precisely measured about one millimeter less of underside framing 142 to functionally abut and guide in edges of the insert arrays 145, including insert backing piece 133, and disguise/mask any raw cut insert material edges of designer material 132, as the edges will be covered with a precise measure more of upper-side finished framing in this precisely layered pouch. Double edge frame 141 also separates the layers of insert array 145 from the edge stitching 140, thereby providing the exact space within the pouch member for interchangeable insertion and retraction of the designer insert, as is dimensionally illustrated with respect to FIG. 1B.

Since the topmost pouch or showcase member is only connected to the parts that are in turn anchored to the shoe sole foot action, it is largely stress free. This topmost positioning further stabilizes the insert array area that rides above the major foot action when in motion.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the pouch opening 103 at the upper end of pouch 102 provides the pouch opening for insertion and withdrawal of the available variety designer inserts 145. When well positioned gravitationally, designer inserts 145 need not be closed off from opening 103 to pouch member 102, as frictional engagement will suffice.

FIG. 1C shows the lower layer of shoe fabrication material 135, where the back side 150 includes slots or channels 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, and 162, by way of example and not by way of limitation, for insertion of straps.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of a woman's shoe 200 which includes a snap-on top showcase 202. This embodiment illustration of the shoe 200 also shows a sole member 220, including a forefoot portion 221, a forefoot retaining band 222, which includes restraining straps 212 and 214, instep retaining straps 208 and 210, a rear foot retaining portion 223, and buckle ankle wrap straps 204 and 206. Each strap includes a buckle as illustrated, where restraining strap 214 is buckled with buckle 215, restraining strap 212 is buckled with buckle 213, instep restraining strap 210 is buckled with buckle 211, instep restraining strap 208 is buckled with buckle 209, ankle wrap strap 204 is buckled with buckle 205, and ankle wrap strap 206 is buckled with buckle 207. The features in FIG. 2A replicate many of the features shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B shows an alternative vinyl centered detached male or female stud snap-on top 1-ply layer 203 of the insert array showcase 202. FIG. 2B shows the use of the showcase design, where the shape of the attached top 1-ply layer 230 makes use of female or male stud snap-ons 236 which are mounted on a supporting frame 232 and which are designed to snap together with the corresponding male or female studs (not shown) which are present on a lower layer of shoe fabrication material of the kind shown in FIG. 1A, for example.

FIG. 2C shows a lower layer 240 of shoe fabrication material, which, in the embodiment shown, comprises male studs 244 to work in conjunction with female snap-on studs 236 present on a top 1-ply layer 230 of the kind shown in FIG. 2B. Lower layer 240 include slots or channels 252 and 254, which work in combination with straps 204 and 206, respectively; slots or channels 256 and 258 which work in combination with straps 208 and 210, respectively; and slots or channels 260 and 262 which work in combination with straps 212 and 214, to provide for attachment of the snap-on top showcase 202 to shoe 200. Such a totally separate showcase affords pre-loading of the decorative insert array prior to its mounting onto the main shoe body 200.

This alternative embodiment as shown has an open back so that the total showcase enclosure is achievable only when the top 1-ply layer 230 is attached to a lower layer 240 which includes shoe fabrication material 242. Mounting methods for 1-ply layer 230 can include stud snap-ons, as well as other fixatives, so long as they hold fast and can be easily removed. Novelty outer shaped frame vinyl pouches and showcases are also feasible.

In the present invention, a shoe has been modified to include a strip-like pouch member or showcase member used in combination with any number of thin or thick multi-strapped forefoot and instep and rear foot and ankle strap areas or conversely fewer straps, and with or without rear heel portions. Heels can vary from flats to wedgies or platforms to the stiletto height shown in FIG. 1A.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and alterations of such embodiments as to form, structure and materials will occur to others skilled in the art upon their reading and understanding of this specification. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention includes all such modifications and alterations, and equivalents thereof. 

1.-36. (canceled)
 37. A woman's shoe with a buckle-on detachable display pouch or showcase for display of an interchangeable fashion insert, said shoe with display pouch or showcase comprising: a shoe which includes at least one buckled ankle wrap strap, at least one buckled instep retaining strap, and at least one forefoot retaining band which includes at least one buckled strap; a buckle-on detachable display pouch or showcase for display of an interchangeable fashion insert, wherein said buckle-on detachable display pouch or showcase includes a strip comprising slots or channels through which straps to be buckled may passed, to attach said display pouch or showcase to said shoe; and wherein said strip extends from said at least one buckled ankle wrap strap to said at least one buckled instep retaining strap, to said at least one forefoot retaining band which includes at least one buckled strap, in a manner such that said strip interconnects and is suspended between said at least one buckled ankle wrap strap and said at least one forefoot retaining band with at least one buckled strap, so that said strip comprising said display pouch or showcase is disposed directly above and is longitudinally aligned along a center of a sole of said shoe, wherein said interchangeable fashion design insert is stabilized and maintained in a given position within said display pouch or showcase member due to frictional and gravitational forces when said woman walks in said shoe.
 38. A woman's shoe in accordance with claim 37, wherein said shoe includes a buckle-on detachable display pouch, and wherein said detachable display pouch comprises a top opening and includes a transparent outer layer of plastic sheet material through which said interchangeable fashion insert is visible, said transparent outer layer of plastic sheet material comprising peripheral edges, wherein a double edged frame member, which affixes the peripheral edges of said transparent outer layer of plastic sheet material to a peripheral edge of said display pouch, wraps over, and around an edge portion of said interchangeable fashion insert, and is attached to a bottom layer of said detachable display pouch, and wherein said double edged frame member has about a millimeter less of underside framing than topside framing, with said underside framing abutting said edge portion of said interchangeable fashion insert, to functionally abut and guide edges of said insert into said display pouch.
 39. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, wherein said interchangeable fashion insert comprises raw cut or unfinished edges, and wherein said raw cut edges are covered so that they are not observed while said insert is present within said display pouch.
 40. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, where said interchangeable fashion insert comprises finished edges.
 41. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, wherein said interchangeable fashion insert finished edges include ribbons which are visible through said double-edged frame member.
 42. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, wherein at least two sparsely placed, narrow, buckled instep retaining straps are present on said shoe, thereby further stabilizing said buckle-on detachable display pouch, so that a free riding insert which is inserted through a top opening of said display pouch does not shift in position within said display pouch while a woman is walking in said show.
 43. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, wherein said interchangeable fashion insert comprises at least one layer of designer material and one or more underlying layers of support structure designed to function within said display pouch.
 44. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 43, wherein a layer of designer material is present on each side of said support structure, to provide a reversible fashion design insert.
 45. A woman's shoe with buckle-on detachable display pouch in accordance with claim 38, wherein said interchangeable fashion insert is flexibly stiff such that it is easily inserted into said display pouch through a top opening of said display pouch.
 46. A woman's shoe in accordance with claim 37, wherein said shoe includes a buckle-on detachable showcase member, wherein said buckle-on detachable showcase member comprises a bottom portion including said strip through which straps to be buckled may be passed, to attach said showcase member to said shoe; and wherein an upper, top portion of said showcase member is attachable to an upward facing surface of said bottom portion of said detachable showcase member; wherein said top portion of said showcase member includes a transparent plastic sheet material through which said interchangeable fashion insert is visible, and said top portion of said showcase member is attached to said upward facing surface of said strip by a plurality of fasteners, wherein a first mating portion of said fasteners is present on said top portion of said showcase member and a second mating portion of said fasteners is present on said bottom portion of said detachable showcase member.
 47. A woman's shoe with detachable showcase member in accordance with claim 46, wherein said fasteners comprise male or female stud snap ons positioned around edges of said top portion of said showcase member, with mating female or male stud snap-ons positioned around the edges of said top portion of said showcase member.
 48. A woman's shoe with detachable showcase member in accordance with claim 47, wherein said male stud snap-ons are present on said bottom portion of said detachable showcase member, and said female stud snap-ons are present on the top portion of said showcase member.
 49. A woman's shoe with detachable showcase member in accordance with claim 44, wherein a framing layer of material is used in combination with said transparent sheet material to frame a fashion insert which is placed within said showcase, and to stabilize said fasteners positioned around said edges of said layer of transparent plastic sheet material.
 50. A woman's shoe with detachable showcase member in accordance with claim 46, wherein said bottom portion including said strip through which straps to be buckled may be passed, includes slots or channels through which said straps may be passed.
 51. A woman's shoe in accordance with claim 49, wherein said stabilizing layer of material which frames said fashion insert is sized such that raw cut or unfinished edges of a fashion insert are covered when said showcase member is fastened in place over said bottom portion of said detachable showcase.
 52. A woman's show in accordance with claim 49, wherein said stabilizing layer of material is in the form of a ribbon.
 53. A woman's shoe in accordance with claim 46, wherein said interchangeable fashion design insert is flexibly stiff so that it will not crimp due to a woman's walking in said shoe. 